Why I'm running

About two and a half years ago my husband and I began working with the Coptic Christian Immigrant Community in Nashville.

Coptic Christians are simply Egyptian Christians.

They immigrate through the diversity immigration program set up by President Bush Sr.

Egypt is 90% Muslim and they are highly discriminated against and persecuted because of their faith, (as we have seen on the news). They are one of the main groups targeted by ISIS.

I began working with the community through ESL classes, teaching English Second Language. They are highly motivated to be here. They want to learn English quickly and they become citizens as soon as possible.

Through the English classes I became close friends with many of the families and as I began to consider running for Congress I talked with one of the men who immigrated about fifteen years ago.

He is now a citizen, so I asked him to help me understand the immigration system in America. Based upon his own personal experience, I asked him how did he suggest we fix the problems?

He seemed a little confused at first because for him it wasn’t a problem. For his wife he married in Egypt that had only immigrated a few years ago, it wasn’t a problem. So instead of offering a suggestion he said, “It works just fine.”

Then after thinking about it he said, “The only problem is that you are trying to make it do something that it is not supposed to do.”

He said, “You are trying to make it work for people who break the law, and if you break the law it should not work for you.” And then he said again, “That’s not what it is suppose to do.”

Isn’t that brilliant?

The immigration problem summed up in a few sentences from one of our newest citizens.

Simplified; You can’t expect anything to work when you are tying to make it do something that is was not designed to do.

That is the reason I want to go to Washington and represent my district.

A district I have called home for over 25 years.

I have raised my family here. My husband and I ran a commercial roofing company here for over 20 years.

I am just like you.

I am not a politician, at least not until this moment, but I present myself to this race with a very unique perspective.

I am a career long broadcaster. For 28 years I worked for WLAC as a traffic reporter and then I worked for a year and a half at The Blaze TV in Dallas. I commuted back and forth, I never relocated.

But what many don’t realize about those who work in the media is that we basically have a back stage pass to the genre of music, entertainment or news we work in.

I have spent my entire career with a back stage pass to the halls of government.

I have studied, and watched how the sausage is made.

And just as my Egyptian friend said, the only problem we have with immigration is the same problem we have in Washington, we are trying to make our government do something that it is not suppose to do.

That it was not designed to do.

How many programs do we have that are absolutely not what the founders intended for us when they wrote, agreed on, and signed The Constitution?

I have outlined below some of the keys issues I will focus on if elected to the House of Representatives. I will always vote as the conservative that adhere's to the platform of the Republican Party.

As a matter of fact, as I read that document, I find myself wishing we had elected officials that would embrace and support the guidelines outlined in that document.

Certainly, all of those who are currently vying for Tennessee’s 6th Congressional Seat will agree on most all of the issues before us.

We are all conservatives, and will most likely sound the same, but the difference will be found in our long term goals.

Let me explain.

One article in particular interested me in the Republican Platform.

It was regarding the Federal workforce.

It stated that the federal workforce is larger and more highly paid than ever.

It went on to discuss the need to bring federal compensation and benefits in line with the standards of most American employees.

It hoped that a Republican administration would work to streamline personnel procedures to, “expedite the firing of bad workers, tax cheats and scammers” and it called into question the unionization of the federal workforce and the need to review the policy and processes.

As I read this I could not help but think of the biggest offenders of what is outlined in this article, and that is our elected representatives who make a career of governing rather than a season.

Everyone knows that the intent of those who came before us was to have representation of the people, by the people, for the people.

It was never intended to be an elitest, legacy, Lord and Lady builder that it has become.

We are again serving the elitest system we turned away from at the founding of our nation and with every passing year we lose more and more freedom that will eventually find us back to a complete life of serfdom.

So, there is only one other issue I would like to address at this moment as you consider who you will vote for in this election,and to me it is a game changer for Washington.

If term limitswere imposed on Senators, Congressman, and Supreme Court Justices, I believe we would see an instant reversal of many of the problems plaguing our Nation's Capitol.

With that in mind, I will promise to promote, debate and bring any and all actions possible to impose term limits on all branches of government.

I will help to promote the Convention of States.

I will do all I can to force a vote on term limits, as often as they will allow me to do so. I will be tenacious on the issue of term limits for all branches.

I further promise, to term limit myself.

I will be different. Washington will know I am there and that I can not be bought, or compromised.

That is why I want to be your Congressional Representative from the 6th District of Tennessee.

Oh yes, one more thing, and the most important. While many in Washington declare, “I am a person of faith but I don’t wear it on my sleeve.” I will in turn, not only wear my faith in God on my sleeve, I will bind it on my forehead, write it on my doorpost and they will know HE is the only KING I serve.

God Bless!

LaVern Vivio

WHERE I STAND ON SOME OF THE TOP ISSUES

I AmPro-Life.

There is not an issue I am more solid on than this one.

I am extremely proud of the work Congressman Black has done to defund Planned Parenthood, and I would continue that effort.

I find it rather interesting, that so much effort has been made to remove the historical monuments of our past, that some consider offensive, yet this one is ignored.Planned Parenthood is nothing more than a monument to its founder, Margaret Sanger; Who wrote in a letter to Dr. Clarence Gamble on December 10, 1939, “We do not want word to go out that we want to exterminate the Negro population.”

Through abortion and the work of Planned Parenthood, Margret Sanger’s ambitions live on. It is incredible to me that this program still exists, and how little is publicized regarding it’s true history.

There Is Nothing More Precious To Me Than Our United States Military.

And those who are willing to stand and defend what most Americans take for granted.

My son is a Sergeant in the United States Army Infantry.

He spent most of 2017 Afghanistan.

As I have watched him during his time in the Armed Forces I am embarrassed by what we ask of our military and what we offer them in return. Especially as it compares to the programs available to our elected officials.

I will support any and all efforts to strengthen our Armed Forces and enrich the lives of all those who have served.

Healthcare Is A Clear Example Of Out Of Control Government.

Obamacare must be repealed.

My daughter in law is a nurse. My husband is a heart patient. We understand the problems of preexisting conditions, out of control healthcare, and insurance cost. Still Healthcare is not the responsibility of the government.

Help for those with preexisting conditions can be obtained through Medicare adjustments. Not by nationalizing all of healthcare into a single payer system!

State Issues Must Be Returned To State Control.

I am an advocate for state rights.

The Supreme Court has shown time and time again, its lack of respect for state right issues.

I will work to reinstate the rights of each state, by supporting and helping to promote, the Convention of States.

I Support, I Honor, And I Utilize, The2nd Amendment.

There is no gray area when it comes to the right to bear arms.

It was clearly put in place to protect our freedoms and our rights as citizens of a free nation.

My husband and I are concealed carry license holders, and we are both licensed armed guards as well.

I fully support all rights clearly outlined by the 2nd Amendment.

Immigration

I work with legal immigrants everyday, (The Coptic Christian Immigrants from Egypt).

The immigration system itself is not broken.

It’s the abuse of the system that has to end.

The 14th amendment needs to be repealed. It has outlived its purpose, and is clearly being used for something it was not intended for.

Those who are selected for immigration must be vetted! And our borders must be sealed. It is a matter of national security.

TheEconomy

Is going to be a train wreck.

If we do not make significant repairs to our economic structure, we will derail.

The 2017 Tax Reform was a breath of fresh air, but the passing of the new Omnibus spending bill has knocked the breathe out of the American people once again.

Frivolous out of control spending must end!

Every aspect of our budget must be reevaluated and any and all unnecessary spending stopped!

The Opioid Crisis

I have clearly stated that I do not believe Healthcare is the job of the Federal Government, but I do believe we have a responsibility to The Opioid Crisis, that is rotting our nation from within.

I will fight for community based programs to assist with detox centers and family intervention programs to rescue children from the nightmare of drug addicted homes.